How to Video Call on WhatsApp: A Simple Guide for Seniors

Learning how to video call on WhatsApp is one of the highest-value tech skills a senior can pick up: one tap, and you can see your grandchildren's faces from across the country. The whole call takes one sentence to explain — open the chat with the person, tap the video camera icon at the top of the screen, and wait for them to answer. Everything below exists to make that first call go smoothly: the exact steps for iPhone and Android, what the buttons mean, and fixes for the few things that commonly go wrong.

How to Video Call on WhatsApp — iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp (the green icon with a white phone).
2. Tap Chats at the bottom of the screen.
3. Find the person you want to call — either tap their existing chat, or tap the new chat icon (top right) and choose their name.
4. At the top of the chat, next to their name, tap the video camera icon. (The plain phone icon next to it starts a voice-only call — make sure you tap the camera one.)
5. If WhatsApp asks for permission to use your camera and microphone, tap OK. This only happens the first time.
6. Wait. You will hear ringing, and their face will appear when they answer.
7. To end the call, tap the red phone button at the bottom of the screen.

How to Video Call on WhatsApp — Android

1. Open WhatsApp (the green icon with a white phone).
2. Tap Chats at the top of the screen.
3. Find the person — tap their existing chat, or tap the green new-chat button (bottom right) and choose their name.
4. At the top of the chat, tap the video camera icon next to their name.
5. If WhatsApp asks for camera and microphone permission, tap Allow. First time only.
6. Wait for the ringing — their video appears when they answer.
7. Tap the red phone button to hang up.

During the Call: The Only Buttons That Matter

There are only three worth knowing: the microphone icon (tap to mute yourself — tap again to unmute), the camera icon with circular arrows (switches between the front camera showing you and the back camera showing what is in front of you), and the red button (ends the call). Everything else can be ignored.

How to Start a Group Video Call

1. Open the group chat with the family members you want to call.
2. Tap the video camera icon at the top of the group chat.
3. Choose the people to include, then tap the video call button.
4. Everyone's phone rings — those who answer appear on screen together.

Tip: keep group calls small (four or five people) — more faces means smaller pictures and more background noise.

Troubleshooting: Fix the Most Common Problems

They cannot hear me. First, check you did not accidentally mute yourself (microphone icon should not have a line through it). Then check the phone's volume buttons. If it still fails, the app may not have microphone permission: on iPhone go to Settings → WhatsApp → Microphone (on); on Android go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions → Microphone (allow).

I cannot hear them. Turn your phone's volume all the way up with the side buttons during the call. If they sound far away, ask them to hold the phone closer or turn up their own volume.

They cannot see me / my screen is black. Check nothing is covering the camera lens (a finger or a phone case edge is the usual culprit). Then check camera permission the same way as the microphone above.

The call will not connect or keeps freezing. This is almost always the internet connection. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router, or if you are on mobile data, find a spot with a stronger signal. Closing other apps can help on older phones.

Everything looks too small. Make WhatsApp text bigger: in WhatsApp go to Settings → Chats → Font Size → Large. For the whole phone: iPhone Settings → Display & Brightness → Text Size; Android Settings → Display → Font size. Bigger text makes every step above easier.

WhatsApp wants me to update. Let it. Open your app store (App Store on iPhone, Play Store on Android), search WhatsApp, and tap Update. Calling features occasionally move after updates — if an icon is not where this guide says, look at the top of the chat screen; it is always near the contact's name.

Making WhatsApp Easier Going Forward

• Pin important chats so family stays at the top: press and hold the chat (Android) or swipe right on it (iPhone), then tap Pin.
• Ask family to call you first a few times. Answering a video call is even easier than making one — just tap the green camera button when it rings.
• A phone stand helps enormously. Holding a phone at arm's length for twenty minutes is tiring; a simple stand keeps your hands free. We list easy options in our gift ideas for an elderly woman guide (they make great gifts for grandpa too).

Video calling is the single best reason to get comfortable with a smartphone — and it gets easier every time. For more step-by-step help, browse our Senior Tech Made Simple section, see all our gift guides for tech-friendly presents, or start from the SeniorHaven homepage.

Quick answers

The 10-second version: open the chat with the person → tap the video camera icon at the top → wait for them to answer.

iPhone and Android are nearly identical — the only real difference is where the icon sits (top-right on both, in slightly different spots).

First call nervous? Call a family member first and tell them it is a practice call. Everyone's first video call is a little awkward — that is normal.